Sunday, March 26, 2006

UN: UN-Smart

The kind of Hyperbolie I've come to expect from the B-J on some issues. But i decided to go dig a little deeper over on this site named agora (which seems to be dutch) where some folks decided to translate a naughty UN report that isn't in English

“Judicially, the Danish government ought therefore, especially considering its international obligations, to have, respecting Freedom of Speech, taken a position not only on the consequnces of the caricatures for its community of 200.000 Moslems but also for the protection of peace and order.”

In other words our UN overlords have decided to say "Freedom of Speech is ok but only so long as it isn't a threat to public order" Isn't that great? take a deep breath in. Now of course I will show I am not just hyping this up

“Their uncompromising defense of a Freedom of Speech without limits or restrictions is not in accordance with the international rules which are based on a necessary balance between Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion, especially to combat calls for racial and religious hatred, and which all the member countries of UN have decided are the basic rules for Human Rights.

Ok lets take a look at Freedom of Speech:

pretty basic that within reason you get to say whatever the heck you want to say.

Ok lets take a look at Freedom of Religion:

Pretty basic also you get to practice or change your faith at a whim.

HOW IN THE HECK did these cartoons prevent some one from practicing their Muslim faith?

Ok now on to the second issue

Religous Hatred:

Did these cartoons say "hate muslims" no they didn't. They happened to lampoon a particularly violent batch of muslims out there in la la land. Now could that get shoehorned onto all muslims by people who want to be bigoted? But the folks who take things and shoe horn them into bigotry tend to be bigoted already so unless the UN decides to start regulating the conduct of human thought this is just ludicrous.

but more idoicy from the UN

hus the newspapers strengthen the connection between Islam and Terrorism which arose after September 11th and which is the most important reason for Islamophobia being on the rise in the world at large and in their own countries.”

Ok lets review. The Vast majority of Terrorist movements in the world (at present) have a Islamic foundation, or were based upon the shoulders of a Muslim nation. So you see that established the connection between Islam and terrorism far before September 11th.

And the link between Muslims=Terrorists and the cartoons only exist if you want it to.

And as we saw with the burning of buildings and rampaging in the middle east many people clearly wanted to.

But now lets get to where the UN is getting the right to poke its nose in the Dane's business.

From Jyllands-Posten’s article on the case, we learn that the government is accused of breaking its international obligations by not conforming with the following three articles in the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

Article 18, paragraph three: Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

Article 19, paragraph three: The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:1. For respect of the rights or reputations of others; 2. For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals. Which limits certain rights in paragraph two:Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.